Instagram’s Algorithm Change
In 2016, Instagram changed from a reverse-chronological feed to one that showed “relevant” posts first — and users were not happy about it. One big problem: You would sometimes see days-old posts.
The Backlash
The change was worrying to influencers and merchants who feared it would hurt sales. Celebrities like John Mayer also voiced concerns that it would negatively affect artists: “Please don’t change the chronological feed in exchange for an algorithm meant to show most ‘relevant’ feeds first,” he posted in an open letter to Instagram. “I’m not writing this for my benefit, but for the benefit of so many artists, creators and upstarts whose careers depend on this platform to flourish. My tastes, interests and curiosities change every day; if I’m not even sure what’s relevant to me, how will you know?”
It also bothered ordinary people who just preferred seeing an orderly feed.
In 2018, the company changed the feed back to a (somewhat) chronological order that showed more new posts.
“Based on your feedback, we’re […] making changes to ensure that newer posts are more likely to appear first in feed,” Instagram posted on its company blog. “With these changes, your feed will feel more fresh, and you won’t miss the moments you care about.”
